Underfired regenerative coke-oven battery



July 3, 1950 L. WILPUTTE 2,515,815

UNDERFIRED REGENERATIVE COKE-OVEN BATTERY Filed larch 24, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [IUDUUDH 111 ,11, 111 I 1 11/111, I/ll/l/I/l/l 1,1,

I N V EN TOR. 100/5 #40 0775 BY; a u zg,

July 18, 1950 L. WILPUTTE 2,515,815

UNDERFIRED nscsum'nvz coma-om BATTERY Filed larch 24, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. [00/8 /I P0772- ATTORNEY Patented July 18, 1950 UNDERFIRED REGENERATIVE COKE-OVEN BATTERY Louis Wilputte, New York, N. Y., assignor to Allied Che'mical & Dye Co of New York rporation, a corporation Application March 24, 1945, Serial Nor 584,527

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to a novel design of an underjet regenerative coke oven battery. This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 538,977, filed June 6, 1944.

As is well known, the charging of the coking chambers of a coke oven battery with coal is effected through the top charging holes disposed in the roof of the oven battery by a larry car which receives charges of coal from an overhead storage bin, moves along the top of the battery, and delivers the coal to the coking chambers. Coke is periodically pushed from each coking chamber through the chamber openings at the coke side of the battery. The charging of the chambers and the periodic pushing of coke from the coking chamber causes the suspension of fine particles of coal and coke, particularly the latter, in the atmosphere at the sides of the battery; this condition is especially noticeable at the coke side of the battery. In prior designs of underjet ovens in which air is supplied to the basement space through openings disposed along the side walls of the battery, it has been found that the air carrie fine particles of coal and coke, which is highly objectionable for a number of reasons, among which may be mentioned that the suspended particles interfere with the operation of the regulating devices in the basement space and also cause unsatisfactory working conditions for the attendant in the basement.

The chief object of the present invention is to provide an underjet regenerative coke oven battery of simple and compact construction and which is designed to ventilate the basement space, employing, for this purpose, air supplied to the regenerators, to maintain the basement space at a reasonably comfortable temperature for the attendant moving around therein to operate the regulating devices associated with the battery, the design of the battery being such that the air is supplied to the basement s ace in a reasonably clean condition, i. e. substantially free of coal and coke dust.

In accordance with the present invention a regenerative coke oven battery of the underjet type has the basement space extending throughout the full length and width of the batt ry, has at one side of the battery. preferably the pusher side, a waste heat or chimney flue for receiving products of combustion from the regenerators, and has at the other side of the battery an air duct or conduit, running the full length of the battery, connected with the basement space at spaced points along the length of the battery and 2 communicating with the atmosphere only at one or both of its ends so that the intake of air to the conduit is in a zone where little or no suspended coal or coke is present in the air. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a fan or blower is provided for supplying air to this air conduit under superatmospheric pressure, say, about a half pound, the air'under pressure entering and flowing across the basement space, a portion flowing into the regenerators and the remainder being vented to the atmosphere. Operating with superatmospheric pressure conditions in the air channel and in the basement space, lower temperatures may be maintained in the basement space in any given coke oven battery than would be possible in the same battery operated with subatmospheric pressure conditions in ithe basement space due to the increased amount of air passed through the basement space to maintain the desired superatmospheric pressure therein.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and showing for purposes of exemplification a preferred embodiment of the invention but without limiting the invention to this embodiment:

Fig. 1 shows a vertical section taken crosswise of the battery, the left-hand portion of the figure being through a coking chamber and the righte hand portion through a heating wall of a coke oven battery embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section taken lengthwise of the battery along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary diagrammatic plan view of the battery of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the coke oven battery structure illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a deck or oven base member I which extends for the full length and width of and supports the battery brickwork. In the upper portion of this brickwork are transversely-extending coking chambers 2 and heating walls 3 alternating with the coking chambers. In the lower portion of this oven battery structure are transversely-extending or cross regenerators 4 each constituted of a middle section 4a and outer sections 41) and 4c and regenerator sole channels or passages 5 which extend into the oven brickwork from one side of the battery and through which air is supplied to and products of combustion are withdrawn from the bottom of the regenerators.

The deck member I is ordinarily formed of reinforced concrete and may be a single slab, although preferably it is divided into a plurality of longitudinal sections separated by expansion joints, as disclosed in Patent No. 2,038,552,

supported mainly by a multiplicity of vertical columns 8, which may be of reinforced concrete. These columns are disposed longitudinally of the battery, preferably beneath alternating regenerators disposed lengthwise of the battery, as shown in Fig. 2, and also crosswise of the battery. Masonry walls I and 8 are disposed at the sides of the battery. Suitable angle irons or masonry closures may be provided between these walls and deck I so that the joints therebetween are closed against the entrance of air into the basement space 9. Conventional pinion walls, not shown, are provided at the ends of the battery for additionally supporting the deck member and for retaining in place the ends of the brickwork supported on the deck member.

At the pusher side of the battery is a chimney flue III which, as shown on Fig. 3, communicates with a stack or chimney I I. This chimney flue runs the full length of the battery and is disposed so that its top is substantially at a level with the top of the basement space 9 and its bottom is defined by masonry which is integral with the masonry foundation for the oven battery. It is communicably connected with the regenerators as hereinafter more fully described. Located at the same side of the battery as the chimney flue are reversing valves I 2, which may take various forms and which collectively provide for the discharge of waste heat gases from the regenerators 4 through the sole channels to the chimney flue and for the supply of air to the regenerators through passageways I3 communicably connecting the basement space 9 with the sole flues 5. In the structure shown on Fig. 1 a valve I 4 controls the flow of air from the basement space 9 through the passageway I3 into the sole channel 5 of each regenerator section 4a. This valve is shown in closed position in Fig. 1 because the middle regenerator section 4a with which the sole flue 5 communicates is operative for outflow of products of combustion and hence air is not being supplied thereto. A valve I5 is provided for controlling the flow of products of combustion from each sole flue 5 communicating with regenerator sections a. This valve is shown in open position in Fig. 1 because, as noted above, the middle regenerator sections are shown operative for outflow of products of combustion. A butterfly valve I6 is positioned in the passageway I'I connecting each sole flue 5 with the chimney flue II], which butterfly valve may be suitably positioned by the operator to obtain the desired stack draft causing flow of products of combustion into the chimney flue.

It will be understood that valves similar to I4, I5 are provided for the sole channels communicating with the regenerator sections 4b and do, which valves control the flow of air into regenerator sections 4b and 40 from the basement space and the outflow of products of combustion from these regenerator sections into chimney flue Ill. Thus, when the valves I4 controlling the flow of air into the middle regenerator sections 4a along the length of the battery are closed, the

corresponding valves controlling the flow of air into the regenerator sections 4b and 40 are open. Likewise, when the valves I5 controlling the flow of products of combustion from the middle regenerator sections 4a into the chimney flue are open, the corresponding valves in the passageways connecting the sole channels to the outer regenerator sectionslb and 40 with the chimney flue are closed. Each passageway connectingthe basement space with a sole channel may be provided with a port that may be throttled by removable and replaceable finger bars I3a. For a more complete description of the arrangement of regenerators, sole channels and their connection to the chimney flue, reference may be had to Davis Patent 2,334,612 of November 16, 1943.

Each coking chamber 2 is preferably provided with a plurality of charging holes I8, and

with a passageway I9 leading into an uptake pipe 28 which communicates with a conventional collector main 2i. As is well known in the art, a suitable valve, not shown, may be employed for controlling flow through the uptake pipe 20. The ends of the coking chamber, as conventional, are adapted to be closed by removable doors 22, which may be ofthe self-sealing type.

The heating walls 3 are formed with vertical heating flues 23 having in alternate flues high and low burners 24, 25 respectively. Each flue is connected at its lower end with the appropriate regenerator section 4a, 4b or 40, as the case may be. p

The particular form of the heating flues and of the connections between the flues and the regenerators communicating therewith constitute no part of the present invention. The arrangement of flues and regenerators may take any form known in the art. The particular structure shown in the drawing comprises two exterior groups of flues and one interior group of flues communicating with the exterior regenerator sections 4b, and 4c and the interior regenerator section 4a respectively. Reference may be had to the aforesaid Davis Patent 2,334,612 of November 16, 1943, for a more detailed disclosure of this heating flue and regenerator construction.

Each flue 23 receives fuel gas through an individual uprising channel 26 extending through the deck I and connected at its lower end with one of a pair of gas distribution mains 21, 28 (Fig. 2) disposed in the basement space 9 near the top thereof crosswise of the battery. As appears from Fig. 2, these crosswise extending mains 21, 28 are positioned beneath the heating walls 3. Each main 2! is provided with individual uprising channels 26 communicating only with the interior group of flues in a heating wall thereabove. Each main 28 is provided with individual uprising channels 26 communicating only with the exterior groups of flues in a heating wall thereabove; as shown in Fig. 1, the portion of this main beneath the interior group of flues is devoid of uprising channels.

Each uprising channel 26, at the point where it is connected with main 2'! or 28, as the case may be, is provided with a flow regulator 29 for controlling the flow of gas supplied to the flue. This flow regulator preferably is of the type described and claimed in Patent No. 2,199,- 961 of May '7, 1940. These regulating devices require attention and occasional adjustment by an attendant working in the basement space.

Each main, 21, 28, communicates with a fuel gas supply main 3!! (Fig. 1) connected therewith by means of piping 3|. Main 30 is suitably insulated against loss of heat. Piping 3| is provided with a three-way valve 32 and a shut-off valve 33 which is normally open, but may, if desired, be closed to prevent flow of gas from main 30 to the crossover mains 21, 28. Leading into the 7b three-way valve 32 is flexible pipe 34, which communicates with a decarbonizing .air main 3! suitably supported in the basement space 9. Operation of the three-way valve 32 by usual automatic reversal mechanism functionsto place the main 30 into communication with either main 2'! or 26 and to place the decarbonizing air main 35 into communication with these mains 21, 28

when fuel gas is not beingsupplied thereto. Upon reversal of operation the three-way valve 32 is operated to place decarbonizing air main' 36 in communication with thecrossmains 21 or 29, to which previously fuel gas had been supplied in accordance with customary procedure of supplyingfuel gas and decarbonizing air to the gas distribution system of coke oven batteries.

Located at the coke side of the battery is-an air channel or passageway 36 running the full length of the battery and having one end. 31 (Fig. 3) disposed beyond the end of the battery where the atmosphere is substantially free of suspended coal and coke. If desired, both ends of this channel may be disposed beyond the ends of the battery. One or both ends of the top portion of this air channel 36 may be provided with grating 39 forming openings through which air is admitted to the channel from the atmosphere. If desired, a fan or blower 40 may be disposed at one end of the air channel or passageway 36 with its intake arranged to receive air through'the grating 39 and its outlet arranged to blow the air at any desired pressure, say, about one-half pound above atmospheric into the channelor passageway 36. If desired, two fans may be employed one at each end of the air channel. Also the air admitted to the duct or channel may be passed through a filter cloth or other air conditioner so that clean air ofpredetermined humidity is admitted to the channel and flows therefrom into the basement space and from this space into the regenerators. Operating in this manner, air of constant oxygen content is admitted to the regenerators throughout the year, minimizing the necessity for changing adjustments of the regulating devices with seasonal changes in atmospheric conditions. Furthermore, comfortable conditions for the attendant are maintained in the basement space at all times.

One side wall of the passageway 36 is defined by masonry wall 8, which has openings 4| disposed at spaced points near the top thereof, there preferably being one such opening beneath alternate coking chambers of the battery. The opposite side wall of the channel is indicated by reference character 42 in the drawing and may be the masonry, wall providing a support for the bench 43. The top and base portions of the air channel or passageway 36 are defined by masonry walls 44, 45, respectively; the top of channel 36 as well as the top of waste heat flue I are disposed at substantially the level of the top of the basement space 9. The air channel or passageway 36 is thus completely enclosed except for the openings defined by grating 39 at the ends through which air is introduced into the channel and the openings 4| through which the channel communicates with the basement space 9.

In operation, air is supplied to the air channel or passageway 36 from one or both ends thereof, which air is substantially free of suspended coal or coke. This relatively clean air flows through channel 36 into and through the openings 4i, then across the width of the basement space into the inflow regenerators, say, regenerators 4a supporting combustion of fuel gas fed to the flues, the products of combustion flowing through the outflow flues into and through the outflow regenerators. say 4b and 4c, into the waste-heat flue l0. Upon reversal, air from the channel 36 flows across the basement space, enters the regenerators 4b and 4c and supports combustion of fuel gas fed to the communicating flues, the products of combustion flowing from the outflow flues through regeneil'ators 4a into the waste heat flue III to the stack I In practice, it has been found, the draft exerted by the chimney or stack II is adequate to cause the inflow of a volume of air into the air channel or passageway 36, through the basement space and into and through the regenerators, adequate to support combustion of fuel gas fed to the flues and to maintain reasonably comfortable temperature conditions in the basement space.

However, in the operation of some batteries it may be found desirable to operate with superatmospheric pressure conditions, say, about onehalf pound above atmospheric, in the air channel or passageway 36 to effect the flow of a greater volume of air through the basement space. In the latter case, vents 31' (Fig. 1) are provided in the neighborhood of the basement space near the top of the waste heat flue l0, these vents bemainder of the air being vented to the atmosphere through the aforementioned vents. Operating with superatmospheric pressure conditions in the air channel 36 and the basement space 3 of a given coke oven battery, it is possible to pass a greater volume of air through the basement space to maintain a lower temperature therein than when operating such battery with subatmospheric pressure conditions in the channel 36 and communicating basement space 9.

It will be noted the preferred embodiment of the invention involves a coke oven battery of simple and rugged design in which a single chimney flue is disposed contiguous to the basement space at the pusher side of the battery and an air channel is disposed contiguous to the basement space at the coke side of the battery, this air channel being completely enclosed except for openings at one or both ends thereof, through which air is admitted thereto, and a plurality of spaced openings connecting the channel with the basement space. Due to the disposition of the air inlets to the air channel at a point beyond the last coking chamber of the battery, where little or no suspended coal or coke is in the atmosphere, substantially clean air enters the air channel and the air thus admitted flows through the basement space, cools it to maintain a reasonably comfortable temperature therein. and the thus pre-heated air is employed entirely or partially to support combustion of fuel gas fed to the flues.

While the invention has been described in connection with a coke oven adapted to be fired by rich fuel gas only, the invention is not limited thereto but comprehends combination coke oven batteries equipped with underfired burners and adapted to be fired not only with rich fuel gas such as coke oven gas but also with lean gas such as blast furnace gas or producer gas as disclosed. for example, in Pavitt Patent No. 2,098,013 of November 2, 1937.

Accordingly, it will be understood the invention having heating flues for heating the coking chambers. and regenerators communicating with said heating fiues, of a sub-structure supporting said oven structure and forming a basement space underlying substantially the entire coke oven structure, a single chimny flue disposed along one side of the battery and communicating with the regenerators, an air channel disposed along the opposite side of the battery contiguous to the basement space and separated from the basement space by a wall, the said wall having a plurality of spaced openings along the length thereof connecting the air channel with the basement space, the top and. outer side wall of said air channel throughout substantially the full length thereof being imperforate. said air channel having an air inlet in at least one end thereof, a blower for blowing air through said air channel, and connections between said basement space and the regenerators on the side of the battery at which the said single chimney flue is located whereby air REFERENCES CITED -The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 666,859 Bosley Jan. 29, 1901 2,098,013 Pavitt Nov. 2, 1937 2,102,609 Becker Dec. .21, 1937 2,155,954 Pavitt Apr. 25, 1939 2,306,366 Becker Dec. 29, 1942 2,306,678 Van Ackeren Dec. 29, 1942 2,309,028 'Iwelt Jan. 19, 1943 2,360,343 Hill Oct. 17, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 187,379 Germany July 18, 1907 I 213,706 Germany Oct. 5, 1909 233,801 Germany Apr. 21, 1911 387,575 Germany Dec. 29, 1923 477,434 Germany June 13, 1929 497,972 Germany May 16, 1930 

